Welcome to Behind the Scenes.” This monthly, online column provides members with a backstage pass to see what CAMFT is doing to serve our members and how we are working to ensure that the interests of LMFTs and MFT Interns and Trainees are being served.
March, 2017
CAMFT Staff participated in 11 meetings with Department of Health Care Services
Medi-Cal Management Care Advisory Group, California Coalition for Mental Health,
California Coalition for Mental Health Parity Committee, MFT Leadership Collaborative,
Irregulars, and Consortium meetings in Central Valley, Imperial County, Los Angeles,
Orange County, Sacramento and San Diego.
It is critical for CAMFT to have a place
at the table with other mental health professionals and regulatory bodies. These
meetings will always be a high priority.
CAMFT Legal Staff responded to over 2,150 calls from members with questions
on legal, ethical and licensure issues. Access to this expert, legal guidance
is one of the most beneficial and popular member benefits.
Over 8,390 people visited the CounselingCalifornia.com website with
6,874 of those being unique visitors. There were hits to 1,196 different
therapist
profiles and 30,928 total page views. The newly re-designed CounselingCalifornia.com
marketing tool is available to all members for the purpose of promoting services
to the public. Create your profile now.
CAMFT Staff testified before 2 Assembly Committees: Assembly Health Committee
in support of AB 191 and Assembly Budget Subcommittee in support of removing
delayed implementation of AB 1863.
CAMFT Staff submitted 3 advocacy letters to:
- California Senate Health Committee, urging Committee members to vote “Aye” on
SB 374 (Newman), which would require health insurers to comply with the federal
Mental Health Parity & Addiction Equity Act of 2008
- California Assembly Health Committee, urging Committee members to vote “Aye” on
AB 191 (Wood), which would authorize LMFTs as a second signatory to extend
involuntary commitments
- House Speaker Paul Ryan, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and California
U.S. Representatives, urging each to ensure access to and coverage of mental
health care in the American Health Care Act
CAMFT consistently interacts with key legislators and agencies to reinforce
how proposed legislation, regulation, or other actions may be beneficial or
harmful to LMFTs and MFT Interns and Trainees. Advocacy is a cornerstone of
CAMFT’s commitment to members.
CAMFT Board, Staff and Members met with 13 legislative offices, for State
Assembly Members Arambula, Brough, Burke, Maienschein, McCarty, Obernolte,
Quirk-Silva, Rodriguez, Rubio, Salas, Santiago, Stone, and Waldron. CAMFT
consistently interacts with key legislators to reinforce how proposed legislation,
regulation,
or other actions may be beneficial or harmful to LMFTs and MFT Interns and
Trainees. Advocacy is a cornerstone of CAMFT’s commitment to members.
CAMFT Staff and lobbyists attended 1 reception for State Assembly Speaker
Rendon and 1 caucus for Assembly Members Aguiar-Curry, Caballero, Friedman,
Limon, Quirk-Silva, Reyes, and Rubio. The goal of the CAMFT PAC is to ensure
that Marriage and Family Therapist-friendly candidates and incumbents from
both political parties get elected to the California legislature. We support
candidates who have demonstrated an understanding and willingness to fight
for the issues most important to Marriage and Family Therapists. Click hereto donate to the CAMFT PAC !
CAMFT Staff made presentations at 1 Chapter and 1 school: Delta Stockton and
University of Phoenix. CAMFT Board participated in 2 Chapter meetings: Redwood
Empire and Santa Barbara. Chapter meetings are a prime opportunity for
CAMFT leadership and staff to hear directly from members and exchange ideas
for serving
members. Click here to connect with your local chapter .
CAMFT Staff presented Law and Ethics seminars at 1 Chapter, 1 school,
and 1 agency: San Diego, Hope International University, and Penny Lane Center.
The law and ethics seminar is a valuable training tool that gets consistently
positive response from MFTs and other participants.
The CAMFT Connects Task Force, and Ethics, Executive, Finance, Insurance
and Healthcare Reform, and Political Action Committees met. If
you are interested in serving on a Committee, please contact aredd@camft.org.
Committee appointments
are made by the President of the Board of Directors. Click here for a list of Committees .
The CAMFT Board of Directors met on March 25-26, 2017, in Sacramento. The
Board hosted a reception for the Sacramento Valley and Yolo-Solano Chapters
board members. The Board will meet again on June 3-4, 2017, in La Jolla, CA. View
Board meeting dates, highlights, and minutes.
Tell your therapist friends that they can enjoy these same benefits by
joining our dynamic and influential organization!
